In the given passage few words are missing, which are followed by serial numbers. Choose the appropriate word from the given options that can fit into the given blank without altering the intended meaning.

Economic development and growth are supposed to ______________ (16) the employment situation in a country. Much of development literature _______________(17) this idea as a major expectation at least from the long-run perspective. It is also the case that the greater the amount of ________________ (18) labour in an economy and the greater the ________________(19) of underemployment, the slower will be the pace of change in the employment structure towards more regular and protected waged forms of employment. In fact, one can only give a proper perspective to the misunderstood policy challenges of __________________ (20) in a developing economy by first examining these matters at the broadest level with existing data.

The correct answer is surplus.

Step-by-Step Explanation:

1. Analyze Blank (18):
The context of sentence (18) refers to labor in an economy, specifically in connection with underemployment and its slowing effect on structural employment changes:
"It is also the case that the greater the amount of ________________ (18) labour in an economy and the greater the ________________(19) of underemployment..."

2. Evaluate the Options:

• deprive: A verb, which does not fit grammatically as an adjective describing "labour".
• revise: A verb, meaning to alter or amend, which is contextually irrelevant.
• discharge: Meaning to release or unload, which does not fit describing excess labor in developing economies.
• surplus: An adjective/noun meaning extra or excess. "Surplus labour" is a well-known economic concept describing excess workforce in developing economies.
• fragile: Meaning easily broken or delicate, which does not collocate well with labor in this economic context.

3. Conclusion:
"Surplus" is the only option that fits both grammatically and contextually to form the standard economic term "surplus labour".